The leading supplier of HDPE milk bottles and closures to the dairy market in Ireland, Limerick Blow Moulding (Parteen, Limerick, Ireland) has increased capacity to 125 million containers a year with the installation of two further machines. It now holds a 60% stake in the market for plastic milk containers in Ireland and 40% of the total Irish market, including Northern Ireland. Cartons for doorstep delivery are still the predominant packaging format, however, although the 40% share held by plastics is growing by 15% annually, boosted by a recycling capability that is attractive to large supermarkets and which cartons cannot equal.

Over the last 12 months Limerick Blow Moulding has invested almost GBP 3m on a new 3,000 m² factory and additional blow moulding equipment. Currently it has eight blow moulding machines producing containers from 500ml up to 5l, plus two injection moulding machines for production of closures. Although the blow moulding machines provide 20% of spare capacity compared with existing demand, a new four-head, twin carriage, extrusion blow moulder will be installed in September. This will lead the company´s move into a new market for production of 150ml bottles for yoghurt-based drinks.

Although it has only occupied its new factory for less than 18 months, Limerick Blow Moulding, which has 50 staff, will start a 1,000 square metre factory extension in August. Initially this will provide more space for the company´s transport fleet, but is expected to become part of the production area as the dairy business expands.